McLemore is Cowboys' Mighty Mite

Robert Allen

09/14/2004

He is only 5-7, 160 pounds, but the Cowboys' Daniel McLemore makes big things happen. This summer he was the pride of the strength and conditioning staff as he bench pressed 315 pounds, almost twice his body weight. He also threw up 425 pounds on the back squat. Those are amazing numbers for a player that size, but the real amazing feat is watching McLemore run. On pro timing day last spring he ran an amazing hand timed 4.16 seconds in the 40-yard dash.

"I was shocked myself when I ran it," said the speedster. "I just thank God for the speed that I've got. I really don't have the size that other guys have, but I use the speed that he gave me."

McLemore uses his strength and speed well as he came in during the opener against UCLA and did an excellent job of covering the big Bruin wide receivers. He also had a tackle. It was after that game that the O-State defensive staff knew they had their third corner – the man to come in on either side at cornerback. Remember, McLemore came to the Cowboys as a running back and made the conversion to cornerback.

"I look up to Darrent (Williams) and Robert (Jones) because they are ahead of me, and I watch them and their technique and what they do," said McLemore of the two starting corners. "I listen to Coach Defo (DeForest) and watch lots of film on opponents. I just try to watch what Darrent and Robert are doing and I try to do it."

Last Saturday against Tulsa, McLemore had two tackles, but his real highlight came on special teams when he raced down the field and saved a booming Cole Farden punt from going into the end zone allowing OSU to trap Tulsa on its own 2-yard-line.

"Coach Defo tells us on special teams it is one play and out. Cole has been talking about it, telling me he was going to hit one that I could chase down," explained McLemore of his big play. "I just took off running and I saw the ball and dove and knocked it back in."

SMU comes into Boone Pickens Stadium this Saturday, and while the game is not in Dallas like last year McLemore is fired up. The Duncanville native knows a lot of the North Texas players on the SMU squad, so pride is on the line.

"Like they say never underestimate a team," said McLemore. "We've got to go out and prepare every day hard like we are playing a No. 1 team, then go out and play as hard as we can and we'll come out with a victory."

He's not a starter, but Daniel McLemore may be the most important backup on the Cowboys' depth chart. He certainly provides a spark whenever he takes the field.